Global Classroom
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At Aka`ula, students are encouraged to see the world.
By Sean Aronson
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Author Archives: Sean Aronson
Add your commentCensus Job Interview – Thursday
Crew Leader: Leads and regularly meets with Enumerators in the field to provide on-the-spot assistance and supervision.
Pay: $16.50-$18.50/hr.
Crew Leader Assistant: Assists Crew Leader with all field duties, including appointment and training of new hires and
assigning work to the enumerators. Pay: $15.00-$17.00/hr.
Enumerator/Lister: Completes assignments which involve locating and listing addresses (in 2009), and (in 2010) conducting interviews with
respondents.
Resourceful by Nature
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How Kumu Farms has stayed ahead of the game
By Sean Aronson
A few years ago, Whole Foods grocery store entered the world of Kumu Farms. When Schule heard they were planning to open a store on Oahu, he contacted them about selling his papayas. They were interested from the get go.
“We were very impressed with his operation,” said Claire Sullivan, “He had all the makings of what we look for in a supplier.”
Sullivan works with Whole Foods in Hawaii to identify local producers of all things natural -- from fruits and vegetables to soaps and granola. Whole Foods does not accept any genetically modified (GMO) items and currently sells about half conventional and half organic produce.
According to Sullivan, Whole Foods has been working hard to share the origins of their produce with customers. One way they do this is by posting a picture of the farm next to the product.
Today, in the papaya section, there is a picture of Schule with a description of Kumu Farms and its partnership with Hawaiian Homesteaders. “It’s a way for the consumer to connect to the producer,” says Sullivan. It also lets buyers know whether the fruit is conventional or organic.
Kumu is one of the only Hawaii farms to have their produce sold at Whole Foods on the mainland. The reason: “It’s his commitment to organic, non GMO,” says Claire Sullivan.
While Schule’s relationship with Whole Foods is important in terms of promotion and prestige, it is not a major source of revenue. Schule estimates that only about 5 percent of his produce is sold to Whole Foods.
“It may be small, but it has that name and that’s important,” said Schule
Whole foods will open three more stores on Hawaii in the next year -- two on Oahu and one on Maui. When Sullivan was asked if the Maui store had a better chance of attracting Molokai farmers, she demurred. She said the irony is that even for the Maui store, products will travel to Oahu where their distribution center is and then travel back to Maui.
Sullivan said she is looking for quality products – not just produce, but manufactured goods as well. She is particularly interested in local celery, carrots, onions, potatoes and spinach.
Looking Ahead
As for Kumu, Schule says the future of the farm is a mixed bag – rising transportation costs and the increased cost of doing business on an island are keeping the farm from truly thriving. But Kumu’s durability and longevity bodes well for Schule. He has established Kumu as a reliable producer and that means his buyers have come to count on his produce.
Despite this, big challenges lie ahead, many of which are out of Schule’s control. He says Molokai is at a crossroads – people are working out what kind of future is best for the island. He says growth is necessary for the survivability of the island, and for the farm.
Again, Kumu will have to adapt.
Agro-tourism is one possibility for growth. The farm would need some cosmetic work, says Schule, but it already attracts a steady stream of people who come to see the operation. He’s unsure how they hear about the farm --- perhaps its Kumu’s proximity to the airport -- but they mostly come to buy his papayas and pesto.
Schule says Coffees of Hawaii is a good model for a potential agro-tourism business, but his vision is more laid back, just what one would expect from his personality.
“We would certainly be funkier, that’s the way I’ve always done things,” says Schule.
Funky methods or not, Kumu is a survivor at a time when survival on Molokai is perhaps most difficult.
Holiday Concert at the Library
Molokai Public Library is scheduled to host a “Christmas Medley Concert” featuring Lips & Lungs, on Wednesday, December 10th at 2:30 p.
Lips & Lungs is a musical trio composed of Ilse Borden (baritone sax), David Layne (trumpet) and Charle Kenward (clarinet).
This one-hour concert is recommended for all ages. Contact the library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.
Maunaloa School Update
Two other Molokai elementary schools also will be studied for consolidation.
By Sean Aronson
It is official – Maunaloa Elementary School will be reviewed for possible consolidation in the coming months.
After much speculation and confusion, State education officials announced this week that Maunaloa is among the schools being considered for consolidation. The Molokai school is part of a list that includes more than 20 schools in the islands. Two other elementary schools – Kualapu`u and Kaunakakai Elementary Schools – were grouped with Maunaloa in the announcement.
The Board of Education has grouped schools together that share geographical areas in order to study them as a system. If Maunaloa were to close, it is likely students would be transported to Kualapu’u or Kaunakakai, according to Board of Education members.
Maunaloa Brings the Love
Community Shows Strength Over Threatened School
By Sean Aronson
Children and adults alike brought passion and conviction to a community discussion over the future of education on Molokai. While there was no official agenda, the issue at the top of everyone’s list was the prospect of Maunaloa Elementary School closing.
The Maunaloa community has coalesced over the issue, not wanting to endure another blow to their already hard hit community. Recent activism has included sign holding throughout town, and petition-signing at local businesses. The actions were prompted by the news that Maunaloa Elementary School will be considered for a consolidation effort if it’s determined that the school meets the criteria set forth by the State guidelines.
Wahine Farmers Score Big At States
Molokai’s girl’s volleyball repeats last year’s achievement.
By Sean Aronson
Following on the heels of their first Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Championship in nearly a decade, the Molokai High School girl’s volleyball team finished fourth at the State Tournament in Honolulu.
It was the second year in a row their season ended with a fourth place. This impressive feat was accomplished without a single senior on the team - all of the players will be back for next year.
“We were shooting for third place to better last years finish, but we just couldn’t get there,” said Head Coach Matt Helm.
The Farmers were a #2 seed going into the tournament based on the strength of the MIL and their success in last year’s tournament.
Helm credits the team’s visualization exercises prior to the State tournament with preparing his girls. He said they spent the week and a half after the MIL practicing lightly and focusing on not being intimidated in Honolulu.
Despite their preparation, Helm said the team came out a little ‘shaky’ in their first game against University High, dropping the first set before recovering and winning in five sets. The next day, the Farmers faced Word of Life and battled hard in each set, but lost in three sets to the eventual State runner-ups.
On the last day of the tournament, the girls played Kailua for third place in U of H’s Stan Sherriff Center. On the big court, the Farmers just barely lost the first set and ultimately succumbed in the second.
But the season was still a major success according to Helm.
As for next year, Helm said, “I want the girls to think about being competitive not only in the MIL, but in the state as well.”
Helm also stressed that the entire team, from coaches to players, grew both on and off the court. “We overcame a number of challenges and are better people, not just athletes,” said Helm.
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